New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-13

bound under the usages OF civilization TO hcsltate
| before interfering between man and wiic' Inrrc
WIS further reason for hcsltatng mere ihc
man might be mcnacing her life, but they could
| not saw So he might be simply treating her
with that brutality in which the law paSsiNelN
| licenses the unrcssting tyrant But Tor men III
their losition to thrust Themselves from whatever
motive, into the domestic concerns oi an ohclal
| holding the high civil rank of Colonel llumbN
was an act Of tcmcrity at which they he'd good
| reason TO hesitate. Oiliciaism is the governing
power in India, and certain status Ill the
| service" carries with it IF need b0 practical
| exemption from the operations OF the law.
There hc isl was the exclamation, rs Colonel
IIumby WAS seen rccling into the vcranda. lie
appeared to be searching for his wife. Not finding
her he step ed of the vcranda and went slowly
down through the garden.
lie will find hcr-shc is in white. Are we
men 10 stand hcrc?" exclaimed one Of the officers.
Not l for one" answered Lieutenant Everest
with set teeth. If the man were the Governor
General he shall not i'll use his wife again while
j can protect her" lie dartcd down the compound
as lie spclc, followed by the others. and took
IA direction which led toward that part Of
the garden whittier Mrs IIumby had disappeared
Her husband was still laundering about among
the bushes some distance up. Everest had placed
his foot III on the low earth fence 10 step into
the garden. when he her crouching in
heap beneath orange tree. The young officer
remained where he was. ready to leap across.
Colonel Iumby called his wic's name; and the
poor thing crOuchcd closer 10 the ground with
her hands caspcd above her head. as if TO Offer
what frail protection tlcy could against a coming
blow. Evcrcsts blood boiled and his fingers
twitchcd savagcly Regardless of consequences
there brutc's punishment awaiting the
Dcruty-C Commissioner as soon as he discovered
his wi fcs hiding place. The intoxicated beast
was so long in coming! Every dctOur to right
or left among the shrubs made Evcrcsts teeth
snap with Impotence.
Before the wished for moment of dire chastsc-
mcnt. however. n Shrek Of aconizcd terror from
Mrs IIumhy brought the officer with q leap to
the srot He staggered with horror when ne
discovered the cause. cobra wrigGling mp
the tree at the foot of which the unfortunate girl
had been crOuchng. The deadly reptile paused
moment in its ascent, and with glittcrin@ eyes
and angrily extended hood Missed its defiance
Everest had nothing in his hand; and Obvious
to danger clcnchcd his fist and dealt the dreaded
snake 50 terrific a blow behind the hood that ITS
spine was shattered and it dropped TO the ground
coiling and recoling in vicious knots. but rover
less to do further mischief. Then the officer
raised the unconscious woman in his arms ana
bore her from the spot. The others on hearing
the Shrek had entered the garden too ana met
Everest carrying Mrs. llnmhy.
Kun quickly. one of you. for Dr. KiuhSl"fd-
she has been bitten by a cobra"
Good lcavcns." was the exclamation Of oil
three together Then one started at Il run for
the doctor; whilst another Observed b'io" ms
breath: "If that H. So Charlie the doctor viii be
little use: she will be dead before lie is here rake
her up to the bungalow Halfway mp the pain
Colonel IIumby stood, in flannel trousers ana
shirt Mr. Everest. carrying the Siil III HIS
arms. walked first, his two brother officers
following close behind. The De uty-C 'mmi>s oncr
took position in the middle Of the Iath; c'i'"'N
determined 10 allow them 10 20 no further.
"Wbat does this mean" demanded llumhN.
"Your wife has been bitten by cobra-lct me
pass" answered Everest
The man seemed staggered for moment ana
looked closely into the white face winch lay on
Evcrcst's shoulder Then hc drew l2ok a pace
and glaIcd at the young officer Put her Gown.
he commanded, pointing to the eiouni. what
brought YOU there? Put my wife down, say
The young fellows breath came quick ANA
hard. and for short space hc was uhapI' I"
speak; then 10 the astonshmont OF ms friends
he slowly and gently laid the unconscious form
across the iath. and having done so, drew himself
erect and looked at Colonel IIumby. The latter
made a motion 10 approach his wife: hut IN an
instant Evercsts foot was across her; ana sl'NinI
i'm every fibre from excitement he put OUT "iH
clcnchcd hand and stopped the man '""hcl
Uumby!n he shouted. Il will give YOU ten seconds
10 obey Get out Of my way. OF -ColOncI IlumN
was sober enough TO see ms danger. WIN
low crow like that of "a bailcd beast, lac tn4I'''
his back and walked of. Everest drew drc'
breath and tcndcry lifted Mrs. llnmiy IN ms
vcranda administering stmulants as well rs they
could until DR.. Rainsford arrived. which was III
less than ten -utcs.
A cobra, did YOU say" inquired the doctor
proceeding to examine hands and feet Tor the
puncture Of the poisoned fang.
Il saw il wricgng up the tree under "hch
She was eitting-l killed it," was the answer
Il that case | fear | can do nothing. loof
child"
The doctor failed TO discover the mark Of the
snakes bite. He poured some brandy down her
throat. and sat regarding her att"htivcly WIN ms
hands caspcd under his chin. faint lut''nhs
Of her bosom and movement OF the cAciIdA
aroused his interest and be leaned over her ana
laid his hand Oh her left side. she has not been
bitten. The poor thing has only been frightened
almost 10 death Stand back-or. wait; let Us
carry this couch out into the olcn"
1t turned ont as the doctor said. In few
minutes Mrs ,Iumby opened her eyes, cloarn
them again with Shuddcr and hogan 10 breathe
quickly She had discovered The snake moving
among the folds Of her dress and. with that cry Of
horror which they had heard, had tainted.
Colonel IIumby now appeared upon the scene
and heard of his wilcs escape with an appearance
of shocking Indifference.
DR. Rainsford remained n minute or two after
the officers left 10 have word with the Deputy
Commissioner Colonel IIumby.H he said il il
not for others to interfere in any mans private
affairs. / know You are indifferent as 10 pubIc
opinion; but let me yoa Of this Fact sir, rs
a medical man. If You keep yonr VILE on TIE
plains for the remainder Of this hot season. yOn
will furnish another grave in the station Gene
tery before ChristmaS-in which case, Colonel, YOU
may accept my assurance that "A stronger power
than public opinion will call YOU to account
, A fortnight aftcrward the few men in Jullabad
made the discovery that Colonel and Mrs. llumby
were gone TO the hills-had. in fact been some
DAYS gone They did not api ear at Ethcria and in
deed il was not until their rcturn-in the middle
of Octobcr-that people knew where they had been.
Matters seemed 10 90 on as usual. Mrs. llumby
was never met in the mornings upon her pony
through the Park, but She was visible in the
veranda almost all day long engaged in needle
work. As far as could be judged from such a view
as was obtanablc thus. she looked better: the at